A30243:2928
Spiritual refining
Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.
London: printed by A. Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF GRACE and ASSURANCE; Being CXX. SERMONS. › Section 12 › Sermon 116
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, Another way to preserve or obtain this assurance, is, humility and meekness, going out of our selves, avoiding all presumption, all self-righteousness. 1Thus the Apostle, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. That is, with exceeding great humility and debasement of your selves. So that true assurance is so far from nourishing carnal presumption and sinful confidence, that it is built upon the clean contrary, holy fear and trembling; for although they be assured of grace in them, yet they do not trust in this grace. These two things differ as much as heaven and hell. Paul who was so highly assured that nothing could separate him from the love of God, Rom. 8. And speaking of Christ, he saith, Who loved me, and gave himself for me, Gal. 3. yet this Paul would not be found in his own righteousness, but in that of Christs by faith. So then the godly rejoice to see such testimonies and arguments of grace in themselves, but they put no confidence in them: They repent with an holy fear and trembling: They pray, they hear with an holy fear and trembling.
Thirdly, Another way to preserve or obtain this assurance, is, humility and meeknesse, going out of our selves, avoiding all presumption, all self-righteousnesse. 1Thus the Apostle, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. That is, with exceeding great humility and debasement of your selves. So that true assurance is so far from nourishing carnall presumption and sinfull confidence, that it is built upon the clean contrary, holy fear and trembling; for although they be assured of grace in them, yet they do not trust in this grace. These two things differ as much as heaven and hell. Paul who was so highly assured that nothing could separate him from the love of God, Rom. 8. And speaking of Christ, he saith, Who loved me, and gave himself for me,